Energy status was analyzed in glass eels captured during two early waves of arrival at the mouths of the Mersey
River, Nova Scotia, Canada (MR), and Grande-Rivière-Blanche, Québec, Canada (GRB), and according to their salinity
preference (freshwater, brackish, or saltwater). Glass eels captured in the GRB estuary were larger, more
pigmented, and exhibited higher whole-body glycogen, phospholipid, and sterol and wax ester contents.
Those from MR had a higher condition index and a higher whole-body triacylglycerol content, suggesting different
patterns of storage and/or use of energy reserves. Within a river, a delay of two weeks in estuarine arrival was
characterized by significantly lower energy reserves. No differences in energy storage were observed according
to salinity preference. Thus, the results revealed the occurrence of different energy storage strategies according
to glass eel migration distance and duration, but not according to salinity preference.